Potts Mountain

CasterTroy said:
View attachment 298743 So, we're here. Big RV in the GOOD spot. Ford taurus homeless looking dude in 2nd largest spot, and a family in 3rd best spot. Otherwise it's all ours
Me, clay, Josh, and Earl are in the big spot at the fork. Room for Jason and nakoma here at our camp.
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Earl!


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Had a good time there. First time there. Tried to do a real tough obstacle not sure what it is called about second one in from the bottom. Rolled the inner edge of a rim and lost the tire. Fortunately the beadlock held and I was able to back out and change it in a good spot. Took it easy the rest of the day. Met several of the ctb guys at various points.

Best part was coming up on the last obstacle out of the salad bowl or whatever they call it. Get through the bottom to start the final hill climb and some kid and his girlfriend are turtled at the top. Brand new full size toyota SUV. Had scratched the hell out of it. Girlfriend was not impressed. Could not get by. So had @cranbiz go up the obstacle which is the large ledge. He almost made it unassisted had to pull cable though to finish it. He then pulled the SUV off of being high centered. The guy turned around and followed us out. He was standing up with his head out to see over his hood. Ugh. If we had not come along he might still be there.
 
Fun weekend. A little hot, but the creek fixed that. Always good times hanging out with like minded crazy people!


Warning...man boobs ahead.
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Pic blurred to protect the identities.
 
I took a few pics. And video.

I'll have most uploaded by wednesday, as I came into the office to about 30 submittals that'll take several hours to approve/deny, so be patient.

This Potts trip was the best I've had to date! And that's saying a lot....I LOVE Potts for the fellowship. I mean.. the trail is GREAT. It's in the woods, on rocks, with GREAT views. Not much of a challenge, but beats anything we have locally. But I generally get my kicks from the campsite.

This was the first year I had convoy buddies from Winston :cool: Our New member Earl met me at the Food Lion just up from my house. We rolled out Thursday at 8am, picking up @BigClay at the Hanes Mill exit on 52 north. From there we stopped at LOVES on 77 and @josh$$ fell into the convoy. We all arrived in New Castle about 11:30, nabbed some Ice and headed up to camp

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This year we weren't able to secure the BIG site across from the toilets. An RV was there. Nor were we able to get the biggest site there, as a family of 8 who came in a Chrysler 200 was camped there (@tsconver and @cranbiz were able to slip in after those folks left the next day) so I decided to take the last spot in the loop there on the left at the garbage cans.

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I backed in, and then @BigClay pulled in straight in the same site. Earl followed Clay and parked next to him, and then @josh$$ and @Jason W. pulled "Uncle touchy's naked Puzzle and twister van" in front of my truck. We broke out the ez-ups and eventually had 5 of them tied together in a small city over the picnic area. The next day @Nakoma and Wendy backed up to our site, followed by @Dylan W.

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Here's a pan across the campsite for reference

Night one was BBQ chicken and red potatoes. After dinner the crowd thickened and more folks started arriving. Our site was the "living room" for sure :lol:

Friday morning we decided to run the trail backwards, so we left camp and turned right, headed up the 752 mile dirt road and went in the back way. Made it to "pride rock" area and played a little. On the way @77GreenMachine discovered that a full width rig with cage and no windscreen makes for a PERFECT "bug delivery system" to his passenger seat and back seat. The screams from his wife were heard clear to Roanoke :rockon::popcorn: Those behind him thoroughly enjoyed watching him receive blows from his wife :huggy:

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After some attempts at moss covered wet rocks (rained the night before) we headed to the stacks for lunch. After a quick choke and puke on sammiches we headed back to camp to just "chill"

Creek fun was had and I started hamburgers on the grill

Dinner was good, and time for the living room antics. We sat there and laughed and told stories for HOURS. As more members arrived, more food was prepared. BTW, @Dylan W. and @Nakoma didn't realize they were in a "top chef" cookoff, but that's what it ended up becoming once they set up shop and started the burners. Both of them cook better than any Chef I've ever encountered! Talk about talent!!! I wish I had a fraction of Dylan's ability to whip up something as simple as grilled cheese and have it taste as good as his. And Nakoma doesn't look asian, but daggone he had to spend time slaving in a high end Asian restaurant whipping out perfection!

I had to turn in earlier than the younger fella's, but they kept the party going till after 2am

The next morning was group ride, and everyone was up and at-em and down at the bottom at 9am. We had some locals join us as well. I believe there were 25 rigs total. Chris conducted the meeting then split us off into 2 groups. He took the "big tar group" directly to the trail, and I took the other group to the bald lookout first, THEN to the trail to cut down on congestion. The locals wanted to get right to the trail so all of them went with Chris, making his group about twice the size of mine.

The overlook was beautiful

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We headed down to the main entrance to the trail and started about 11:15. We rolled at a good clip and hit the rock garden around 12:30 where @Andy J. cut a tire, broke his hub, and split a fuel line, almost simultaneously


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The rest came thru with no incidences


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We were in the shade and decided to stop and eat lunch here.


After the break we decided to plug on. We made it to the stacks. I was in the lead and came around the corner to see all the stacked rocks had been spred around by the last rig that went thru there. Didn't bother with any of that...those TSL's decided they didn't need no sticking rocks and walked up it like it was a set of stairs. Parked at the stacks and headed back to spot Jason. After a couple of attempts we pulled cable and allowed Earl to try it.

He killed it in His Super-isuzu

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Next was Ben's turn. He's liking his TSL's as well I think

He did have a little trouble keeping it running....and used his starter to get that last few feet (see video here)


Robbie beat on it for a while, but finally it gave into the abuse

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I think it was at this point the RTP guys were coming the other way and Jason moved my Jeep so they could bypass us on the obstacle

After that we headed to the other challenges.

I played a little and then we all got to pride rock were I made the optional loop

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And came around to see @Keith1138 tackling pride rock like a BOSS (see next post)
 
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And I looked over to see @ncsutj was looking for a piece of BIG rock pie

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Then Earl wanted a piece of pride


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Bow'f ways


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More optional fun


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From there we were ready to get to camp. Robbie said his alarm went off and it was time for Sun-Beam so we hammered down to the end of the trail.


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Ben was airing up, and Keith decided to hang with Andy and head back slow...while the rest of us barreled down the mountain dirt road like rally-cross drivers....UNTIL....we all got stuck behind a toyota tacoma with a dog box in the back doing 8mph.....yes 8mph down that road blocking Robbie. (btw...never stand between that man and getting back to camp!)

After 25 excruciating minutes we were back on pavement and making a bee-line for the campground.

Made it back where some went to the creek and others partook in my showering facilities, then Jason broke out the thickest stakes I've ever seen in my life (c/o Casey) and cooked them to perfection.

But before Jason could finish Dylan offered up the best Grilled cheese I've ever had in my life, followed by chicken and zucchini & onions that would make you smack yo momma....and that sauce!!!!! Holy hell!!

Just prior to the steaks finishing up, Nakoma and Wendy brought shrimp and veggies....OMG!!! By the time the steaks were done I'd already had a FEAST. But...that doesn't stop a fat boy :huggy:

The living room party was started again and more laughs and stories. Another shower for me and I was ready for the air conditioning and BED!!!

Got up early on sunday, and started packing :( but made more happy memories on this trip than most :rockon:
 
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Nice write up! I also had a brake lock up on the trailer just as I was getting on 81. I pulled of to the side of the highway and persuaded that mofo with a 5 lbs sledge until it broke itself loose again. Luckily, I didn't have any more issues with it on the way home. I was NOT looking forward to pulling that axle apart on the side of the highway!
 
I'm going thru my dash cam video's now. Hopefully I can get some edited videos up shortly. I ended up taking out my windshield on one of the loops, climbed that big rock obstacle at the Bowl (with some help of my winch), pulled a Toyota out that was blocking the main trail at the bowl and had a great time. Unfortunately, one of the hazards of running door less is the possibility of your phone jumping out, which mine did. It's gone to S9 heaven and so did the pics I took.

@tsconver had a trailer tire issue which we addressed once we arrived back at my place in Wentworth.
 
cranbiz said:
I'm going thru my dash cam video's now. Hopefully I can get some edited videos up shortly. I ended up taking out my windshield on one of the loops, climbed that big rock obstacle at the Bowl (with some help of my winch), pulled a Toyota out that was blocking the main trail at the bowl and had a great time. Unfortunately, one of the hazards of running door less is the possibility of your phone jumping out, which mine did. It's gone to S9 heaven and so did the pics I took.

@tsconver had a trailer tire issue which we addressed once we arrived back at my place in Wentworth.
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Got a vibration one tire definitely has a separated tread worried the others are not far behind. The are 225 75 15 e rated loadstar tires. 3 years old. Been bounced hard on uwharrie back roads. Any recommendations for replacements?
 
Here is a link to one. This was at the bowl obstacle, you know, the one that no one does. Yes, we pulled cable once my initial momentum stopped and the tires wouldn't get traction.

RTP Offroad Club Go to the page, the video is too big to post here, sorry.
 
tsconver said:
Got a vibration one tire definitely has a separated tread worried the others are not far behind. The are 225 75 15 e rated loadstar tires. 3 years old. Been bounced hard on uwharrie back roads. Any recommendations for replacements?
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After some research, including what the Horse Trailers run, I went with Maxxis. Not the Most expensive, but 1 of the Best. So far, so good!
 
rodney eppes said:
After some research, including what the Horse Trailers run, I went with Maxxis. Not the Most expensive, but 1 of the Best. So far, so good!
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Can get Goodyear endurance tires for $120 each. Basically same price as maxis. Which way to go?
 
tsconver said:
Can get Goodyear endurance tires for $120 each. Basically same price as maxis. Which way to go?
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Between Maxxis, Loadstar Carlisle and multiple others, most trailer tires I have run have all had major issues. I just started going to discount tire and buying whatever top-quality tire they had in stock and got the warranty.
 
tsconver said:
Which way to go?
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Carlisle Radial trail HD

Hands down the best single car trailer tire I've ever encountered. Bought a set in Moab. Trailered back, Then to Potts, then to AOP, then to Golden Mountain, Then URE. Traded Jason trailers there. Then he towed from his home in Nebo to URE 3 times, Then took Scott Fields Jeep to AOP for display, then to Morris Mount Alabama, then golden mountain, then AOP again, then wildcat..before selling that trailer to Lankford. When he sold it, the tires still had the Carlisle in the center tread

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They've GOT to have 8000 miles on them by now
 
Most of it is based on load range, & quality! I had 2 sets of Carlisle's, & kept blowing belts. These were cheap, even though radial, but C or D rated. I forgot. Checking closer 1 day, I realized I was hauling 80% of their load capacity. That's when I checked Many reviews & the Horse people tire reviews. Seemed majority used Maxxis, which I bought at discount tire. And I made sure to get E rated. That puts them at 40-50 load cap. I see some guys run as high as 10 ply, which I didn't know was made in car/trailer tire. Carlisle probably can be a Good tire, with the right Load Rating.
I returned to Discount Tire, for 2 new spares. Told them I didn't want to pay the Maxxis price for Spares, but wanted a decent tire. They sold me 2 Heartland tires, & the tread looks identical to Troys picture. Just no Carlisle name in the tread. If i'm reading it right, it shows a N-rating, & reads 7 plys /tread. Might be better than my Maxxis, but I haven't had to run them, yet.
 
rodney eppes said:
Most of it is based on load range, & quality! I had 2 sets of Carlisle's, & kept blowing belts. These were cheap, even though radial, but C or D rated. I forgot. Checking closer 1 day, I realized I was hauling 80% of their load capacity. That's when I checked Many reviews & the Horse people tire reviews. Seemed majority used Maxxis, which I bought at discount tire. And I made sure to get E rated. That puts them at 40-50 load cap. I see some guys run as high as 10 ply, which I didn't know was made in car/trailer tire. Carlisle probably can be a Good tire, with the right Load Rating.
I returned to Discount Tire, for 2 new spares. Told them I didn't want to pay the Maxxis price for Spares, but wanted a decent tire. They sold me 2 Heartland tires, & the tread looks identical to Troys picture. Just no Carlisle name in the tread. If i'm reading it right, it shows a N-rating, & reads 7 plys /tread. Might be better than my Maxxis, but I haven't had to run them, yet.
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Due to blowouts of older Carlisle's at four different times I now have two newer Carlisle's on one side and two heartlands on the other. They are All load range d and this is the longest my tires have lasted and the best they have worn since the trailer was new in the nineties.
 
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